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Report: Indian Creek Riparian Restoration Phase 3 - FWCP Project COL-F19-W-2696

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In October 2018, Phase 3 of the project was implemented which included planting 865 trees and shrubs within Habitat Islands 4 and 5 throughout an area of 1800 m2 along Indian Creek. Two solarization treatment plots were installed to treat reed canary grass and improve the competitive advantage of the plantings. Browse deterrent spray was applied to all plants to prevent ungulate damage.

Author:  Masse Environmental Consultants Ltd

Old Reference Number:  COL-F19-W-2696

Old Reference System:  FWCP Fish Wildlife Compensation Program - Columbia

Date Published:  Mar 2019

Report ID:  57445

Audience:  Government and Public

The Indian Creek Riparian Restoration project is a multi-phase effort to restore a naturally functioning riparian ecosystem and enhance cultural values along the lower 2 km of Indian Creek. This project aligns with Objective 1 - Sub-Objective 2: "Restore degraded (...) riparian habitat", and Objective 3: "Maintain or improve opportunities for sustainable use", of the FWCP Columbia Riparian and Wetlands Action Plan (2014). Indian Creek has significant cultural value to the Lower Kootenay Band for its historic fisheries and associated wetland habitats. The area has been heavily impacted by agriculture, grazing and flood control structures that have resulted in significant modifications to the natural riparian and wetland ecosystems. Restoration of these degraded riparian and wetland habitats will enhance ecosystem function and create important habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species and cultural plants within Yaqan Nukiy traditional lands The target restoration area comprises approximately 7.5 ha of the riparian zone along the lower 2 km of Indian Creek within the Kootenay River floodplain. Habitat Islands 4 and 5, which occur within the wet reed canary grass vegetation unit were the location of the 2018 Phase 3 restoration activities. This unit floods in spring, and the fine textured soils generally remain moist through the summer. In October 2018, Phase 3 of the project was implemented which included planting 865 trees and shrubs within Habitat Islands 4 and 5 throughout an area of 1800 m2 along Indian Creek. Two solarization treatment plots were installed to treat reed canary grass and improve the competitive advantage of the plantings. Browse deterrent spray was applied to all plants to prevent ungulate damage. Permanent monitoring plots in Habitat Islands 1-3 were revisited and monitored to ensure that restoration is successful and to provide information for ongoing adaptive management of the site. Repeat estimates of height, area, vigour, and browse was collected for each plant in each plot. Three additional plots were added to increase the number of observations. Though browse pressure remained generally low within Habitat Islands 1-3, overall survival of plantings has declined to 55%. Several factors may be influencing this result including prolonged inundation during spring high water in 2018, drought during 2017 and 2018, and increased competition from grasses. Ongoing efforts to enhance the competitive advantage of plantings in Habitat Islands 1-5 will likely be required. The project is successful with continued participation by LKB community members. Several individuals who have worked on the project over multiple years have gained experience in riparian planting and maintenance techniques. Their personal sense of ownership has spread throughout LKB and inspired others to want to become involved with future projects. A total of 1.14 ha has been planted with native species during all phases of the project to date with funding from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and Columbia Basin Trust.

Report Type
  Terrestrial Information
 
Subject
  Region - Kootenay
  Terrestrial Information - Restoration
  Vegetation - Riparian
  Program Specific Area - Kootenay Compensation Program
 


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